HUNTINGTON BEACH – With rain in the forecast for midweek, the American Pro Surfing Series contest will wait until the storms clear and is set to run Saturday.

The pro-am contest will bring surfers to compete on the south side of the pier, with top surfers like San Clemente’s Nate Yeomans and Chris Ward, going against up-and-comers battling for the title.

Heavy rain midweek will clear up by Saturday, when winds shift to light offshore and conditions clean up, said Adam Wright, chief forecaster of surf-forecasting site Solspot.com.

Wright said there will be a couple of swells to make for waist-high, occasionally chest-high surf. There’s a possibility of other storms mixing in to add some size by midday, possibly bringing shoulder-high sets.

An extremely high tide will make it tough for surfers out in the water for early-morning heats, he said.

“The morning will be soft and slow, with conditions improving through the afternoon,” he said.

This is the final event of the year and the third stop for the American Pro Surfing Series, and so far it’s been all Orange County surfers who have taken titles. The first event was held in April, when San Clemente’s Chris Ward and Newport’s Erica Hosseini won the first event. The second event in September was won by Huntington Beach’s Chris Waring and Newport Beach’s Kaleigh Gilchrist.

The events allow local surfers to compete close to home, rather than travel across the world for contests. There are few contests in the nation for surfers hoping to move up the ranks to be a professional surfer – the reason organizer Scott Waring started the events.

The reigning champs are expecting to return, as well as other local standouts such as Huntington’s Teddy Navarro. There is also a women’s division featuring surfers such as former world champ Lisa Andersen and rising star Meah Collins. Ward’s daughter Malia is also expected to join the contest, according to Waring.

There are 32 men and 16 women competing. The contest starts at 8 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m., with the awards ceremony at Sandy’s Beach Grill.

Laylan Connelly started as a journalist in 2002 after earning a degree in journalism from the University of Southern California. Through the years, she has covered several cities, including Irvine, Laguna Beach and Newport Beach. In recent years, she has covered Orange County's beach and surf culture. Coverage includes everything from local wildlife off the coast, beach events, lifeguard happenings and the surf industry. When she's not writing about the beach, she is there enjoying it. Favorite surf spots include Doheny and San O.

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